A recovery operation is underway at Lava Island Falls on the Deschutes River southwest of Bend, Oregon, after a body was discovered by kayakers. The operation, led by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and Bend Fire & Rescue, began on Wednesday afternoon and is expected to be a difficult and lengthy process due to the area’s treacherous and inaccessible terrain.
The discovery was made by a group of kayakers who paddled to the island to take photos and found the body. Authorities have not yet identified the individual or provided further details on the circumstances. However, the discovery comes approximately six weeks after a tragic incident at nearby Dillon Falls, a Class 5 rapid about three miles upstream from Lava Island. On July 12, a group of six people floating on inner tubes were swept over the falls after missing the final takeout area. Three of the individuals survived, but two were found deceased, and a third, a male, has been missing and presumed dead since the incident. Authorities have not yet confirmed if the body found at Lava Island is the missing man from the Dillon Falls incident.
Lava Island Falls, a Class 5 rapid itself, is a segmented waterfall that is considered extremely dangerous for watercraft. The area is part of a series of rapids created by an ancient lava flow from Lava Butte that has created a treacherous and turbulent stretch of river. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has urged the public to avoid the area while the recovery operation is underway. The office has stated that the identity of the body is not yet known and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
